Energy policy and the delivery of a sustainable and secure energy supply are at the forefront of the challenges facing the UK in the 21st Century. Economic prosperity is directly linked to the availability and cost of energy supplies and the UK’s reliance on imported energy is driving an urgent need to exploit the full range of energy supply opportunities.

The UK will need to make substantial new investment in the following areas to secure reliable and affordable energy supplies:

the international legislative framework seeking to respond to the impact of climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions through the promotion of renewable energy sources;

the development of new / replacement conventional energy generation to provide a base load of energy supply and/or to balance the national grid at times of high demand;

preparing applications (planning, development consent orders and applications under Section 36 of the Electricity Act) for power stations, large scale renewables and associated energy infrastructure, including gas storage and energy transmission projects;